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Politicians send cops 'subtle' no-patrol-zone messages, says Adams
BY PAUL HENRY Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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RETIRED Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams last week alleged that successive police commissioners come to the job knowing that certain areas are out of bounds and that specific people are "untouchables".
According to Adams, that knowledge is gained via "subtle messages" from politicians over the years.
ADAMS… it is not spelt out, but it has happened over the years
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ADAMS… it is not spelt out, but it has happened over the years
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"In a subtle way that happens, you understand," said Adams when asked if the police have been told by politicians which areas should be off-limits to patrol.
"The junior rank may not know that, but you have the command structure who it is embedded in their physiology already that, 'listen man, I'm the commissioner of police or I am the mayor for so-and-so or I am the superintendent of so-and-so', so that certain areas you don't touch," said Adams, who retired from the constabulary two years ago.
"Many police commissioners know that you don't touch Tivoli Gardens, or many of them know that you don't touch Jungle. It is not spelt out, but it has happened over the years," Adams added.
When contacted, president of the Police Officers' Association, Superintendent Michael James, said he had not received any complaints, "officially or informally", from his members regarding the issue addressed by Adams. Commissioner Owen Ellington did not return phone calls for comment on the matter.
Adams, who earned a reputation as a tough, streetwise cop, headed the controversial Crime Management Unit which drove fear into the hearts of gunmen across the island. The unit was, however, disbanded by former police commissioner Francis Forbes on the grounds that it had failed to accomplish its goals.
The unit had been involved in many controversial killings -- and during its existence drew the ire of human rights groups across the country. One of those killings -- at Crawle, Clarendon in 2003 -- resulted in Adams and some members of the unit being tried for murder. They were acquitted.
Adams is also remembered as the cop who led the now infamous 2001 joint police/military operation against gunmen in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, that left 27 people dead -- among them a policeman and a soldier -- and numerous others wounded.
Adams retired from the police force in 2008 following a career that spanned four decades and two attempts at becoming commissioner.
During the interview last week, Adams attributed his failed effort for the constabulary's top job, in part to the battle in Tivoli, and raids in other garrison areas affiliated with both major political parties.
Additionally, he said there were persons within the two parties who were against him heading the police force because he cannot be dictated to regarding where he should or should not patrol.
"They know that I was one of those who could not be told, bought or sold by politicians or others," said Adams in his usual no-nonsense style. "I am a man, you know, who cannot be told that you cannot go to Jungle but you can go to Tivoli or vice-versa. Nobody can tell me that."
Adams also mocked the public howls of successive governments about fighting crime. He said there are gunmen the police cannot apprehend because of their political affiliation. These men, he said, are protected by the politicians, in return for the securing of votes on election day.
"Men are placed in these communities to see that the votes are placed where they ought to, according to the dictates of certain political parties who control these areas. We can't touch these men because they are politically connected," said Adams.
BY PAUL HENRY Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
RETIRED Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams last week alleged that successive police commissioners come to the job knowing that certain areas are out of bounds and that specific people are "untouchables".
According to Adams, that knowledge is gained via "subtle messages" from politicians over the years.
ADAMS… it is not spelt out, but it has happened over the years
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ADAMS… it is not spelt out, but it has happened over the years 1/1 "In a subtle way that happens, you understand," said Adams when asked if the police have been told by politicians which areas should be off-limits to patrol.
"The junior rank may not know that, but you have the command structure who it is embedded in their physiology already that, 'listen man, I'm the commissioner of police or I am the mayor for so-and-so or I am the superintendent of so-and-so', so that certain areas you don't touch," said Adams, who retired from the constabulary two years ago.
"Many police commissioners know that you don't touch Tivoli Gardens, or many of them know that you don't touch Jungle. It is not spelt out, but it has happened over the years," Adams added.
When contacted, president of the Police Officers' Association, Superintendent Michael James, said he had not received any complaints, "officially or informally", from his members regarding the issue addressed by Adams. Commissioner Owen Ellington did not return phone calls for comment on the matter.
Adams, who earned a reputation as a tough, streetwise cop, headed the controversial Crime Management Unit which drove fear into the hearts of gunmen across the island. The unit was, however, disbanded by former police commissioner Francis Forbes on the grounds that it had failed to accomplish its goals.
The unit had been involved in many controversial killings -- and during its existence drew the ire of human rights groups across the country. One of those killings -- at Crawle, Clarendon in 2003 -- resulted in Adams and some members of the unit being tried for murder. They were acquitted.
Adams is also remembered as the cop who led the now infamous 2001 joint police/military operation against gunmen in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, that left 27 people dead -- among them a policeman and a soldier -- and numerous others wounded.
Adams retired from the police force in 2008 following a career that spanned four decades and two attempts at becoming commissioner.
During the interview last week, Adams attributed his failed effort for the constabulary's top job, in part to the battle in Tivoli, and raids in other garrison areas affiliated with both major political parties.
Additionally, he said there were persons within the two parties who were against him heading the police force because he cannot be dictated to regarding where he should or should not patrol.
"They know that I was one of those who could not be told, bought or sold by politicians or others," said Adams in his usual no-nonsense style. "I am a man, you know, who cannot be told that you cannot go to Jungle but you can go to Tivoli or vice-versa. Nobody can tell me that."
Adams also mocked the public howls of successive governments about fighting crime. He said there are gunmen the police cannot apprehend because of their political affiliation. These men, he said, are protected by the politicians, in return for the securing of votes on election day.
"Men are placed in these communities to see that the votes are placed where they ought to, according to the dictates of certain political parties who control these areas. We can't touch these men because they are politically connected," said Adams.